Just watched the Amherst Midd tilt.  Seemed like Amherst knew the only way they could beat Midd was to resort to their old tactics of disrupting play with physicality.  Lots of and aggressive slides and tackles from behind.  Nuhu easily could have been awarded second yellow for clearing out Kim in the box - second half.  Final foul count was 21 Amherst to 9 Midd. 
Overall Midd controlled the play (dont let the number of shots deceive you), and let Amherst play outside of the box and take harmless shots.  Stupid foul at the 19 cost them the match.  Midd looks like the real deal this year.  Big win at Amherst home turf.

Quote from: Freddyfud on November 17, 2025, 09:29:26 PM

Quote from: SierraFD3soccer on November 17, 2025, 05:47:26 PM

Quote from: Freddyfud on November 17, 2025, 04:55:53 PMSomething I noticed unsurprisingly is the level of keeper play as a determinant for post season success. Some obvious examples are Silvester and Landa in the battle of Vegas last year. Others are Will Joseph for the Generals and the cinderella run of Washington College with Anthony Pinto 2 years ago to get to the final four.   

I think at this level consistent fundamentals such as positioning and ball distribution are just a given. What seems to set apart the shot stoppers above is the ability to make some saves destined for a goal, and not just PKs.  A challenging save at a critical time can change the momentum and ultimately the outcome of the game.

At Wesleyan yesterday in a game featuring rain, hail and leaves senior GK Travis Holiday for Rowan came up with this:

If that ball goes in Wesleyan is up 1-0 in the 21st minute of the game, and the outcome could have been very different.

Facing the 11th ranked team in scoring offense at 3 goals per game in Emory the Profs may need a few of these saves Saturday.

Absolutely agree. Great save by Rowan.

You also can clearly say that Wes could have hung in there for quite awhile, but for the two clear keeper flubs which sunk its chances. One mistake Wes may have been able to overcome, but the second in first min of the 2nd half not so much. Definitely goes both ways.

Son was a keeper through his college years and he was not perfect, but knew that one mistake his team could manage.  2 not so much.

Also, I think the Wes field played a part. The keeper area after three games in wet weather seemed to be compromised (not like back in our days though where it often was a mud pit). Once again the advantage of playing on turf. I am not sure what the cost of turf v. grass. However, if you have grass you really, really have to invest in keeping it up. Otherwise, grass just becomes another factor in game teams have to deal with that they don't have to on turf. Only maybe a 6-10 places across D3 have grass that is in great shape like W&L, Dickinson, McDaniel and probably a few others. FYI, W&L and Dickinson is only recent as they used to have horrible grass fields.

Bringing lacrosse into the conversation which the grass does not always make a huge difference except around the goal area. High level lacrosse has greatly improved on turf from my days in the 80's. Much more about talent and speed than lucky/unlucky bounces. Most, if not all play on turf, and the games are much better especially around the goal mouth.

I know some will say "both teams had to play on the grass" argument. That is a cop out imo. In many cases on fields not kept up or weather compromised the fields, luck plays a big part. Not so much on turf. I much rather have skill and talent make the difference. In the Wes/Rowan game, I definitely think the keeper area played a big part in the first goal. 2nd not so much.

The weather and field conditions definitely played a part.  I genuinely felt bad for the unlucky Wesleyan keeper.  But my point was that shot so early in the game could have been a turning point for Wesleyan in a game that otherwise was fairly equal.  Will never know of course.

And yet Wes keeper got second team NESCAC?  He was average all year.  saw the 2 goals - weak at best

Quote from: camosfan on November 17, 2025, 02:44:44 PM

Quote from: Soccerlover on November 17, 2025, 11:30:35 AMAnother year without a trophy for Middlebury, what a disappointing team

They ended well given the start they had!

They got hosed by the ref on a clear goal on a corner and trip in the box by Wheaton GK.  2 PKs for Wheaton (both saved by Midd GK) - lots of home cooking.  I dont see Wheaton getting past sweet 16. 

Quote from: College Soccer Observer on November 15, 2025, 01:32:03 PMThere was confusion and the second yellow card was given in error, because he did not have a first yellow card.  The box score was corrected.  He has one yellow card from that game and will be permitted to play tomorrow.

The fact that the ref screwed up a simple math calculation that bad was emblematic of his performance all game.  Imagine if SUNY scored a tying goal while Midd was a man short bc of a massive screwup. 

Quote from: Sandon Mibut on November 08, 2025, 12:38:06 PMMiddlebury is gonna have as many cards in this game as Tufts has on the season. Sheesh

Very one sided game from the ref on the cards.  clearly tilted towards Tufts.  half of Midd cards were not card worthy.

Quote from: Hotskull on November 04, 2025, 08:09:35 PM

Quote from: Futbolguy on November 04, 2025, 01:26:53 PMAnd CSO, it should be noted that Tufts scored the game winner against a very weak Bates team with, wait for it, a PK!    Not sustainable against a stout Midd defense (who is second in league in goals against, so not sure the basis of Hotskulls comments about a defense full of cones).  Midd has given up 9 goals, Tufts 7.  Should be a great matchup on Saturday. 

Middlebury themselves posted a video on instagram this week of their goalkeeper absolutely saving their behinds!! I have never seen a "top" team with a defense that exposed. It looked horrible. Certainly this is not the legacy Luke madden left behind. I'd be very upset if I were him!

They certainly miss Madden and O'Brien at the center of their Defense. 

And CSO, it should be noted that Tufts scored the game winner against a very weak Bates team with, wait for it, a PK!    Not sustainable against a stout Midd defense (who is second in league in goals against, so not sure the basis of Hotskulls comments about a defense full of cones).  Midd has given up 9 goals, Tufts 7.  Should be a great matchup on Saturday. 

Not sure Bowdoin is Mediocre.  current NPI is 4th nationally and they just tied Tufts who is the leader of the pack.  Midd just wore out Bowdoin and scored 2 clutch goals in last 16 minutes of play.  Midd has been on a tear as of late (3-0 shellacking of Williams last Tuesday).  Saturdays match against Tufts should be interesting. 

Best team Scranton has played is Rowan who sits at 43 NPI.  and that was an NPI.  Any Nescac with that cream puff of a schedule would do the same.  Scranton will be done by 2d round.  pick a tougher schedule AD and maybe you will get respect.

Middlebury with a solid 4-0 win over Colby today, and it could have been much more.  Big game next week against Tufts. 

Quote from: paclassic89 on September 28, 2025, 05:15:34 PMTough weekend for Middlebury.  They need to find a way to get the offense going.

Midd coach making strange moves to bolster offense, including benching leading goalie in the NESCAC thus far.  team is 0-2-1 since benching.  Truly befuddling. 

Correct SL - allow me to clarify - undefeated in regular season, lost in NESCAC finals to Conn and Amherst in national semis.  Tufts made it to neither.  Regardless, focusing on something different, what do folks here make of the low scoring thus far?  three 0-0 draws last weekend and scoring seems to be down.  Early season and lack of much of a pre-season? 

Thanks SL, I get a kick out of your review, especially with respect to Midd.  Have not won anything in recent memory?  How about NESCAC reg season champs and undefeated in 2024, along with final four appearance?  But I do agree with the gritty comment and the youth.  Time will tell.  Big match against Amherst this weekend.  Hopefully they can get payback for a tough but controversial loss against AM in last years National final 4 match in Vegas.  Will be an intense 90 minutes. 

Jose - I've been to enough Amherst-Midd games to know that the claim Midd is homophobic is baseless.  Is this justification for the 2023 post game conduct of your players AND coaches?  To claim in the face of the 2023 post game video that these actions may "not be your cup of tea" is tone deaf and shows your level of character, as do your prior posts.  Would you be proud of your son grabbing his crotch in a lewd fashion towards a crowd of fans?  And as someone pointed out above, the fact that the Asst coach was complicit is telling.  It starts at the top.  I am confident the volume of posts since yours of yesterday demonstrate you are in the clear minority in your defense of this conduct.   

I think the point SC made is that there is a right way and a wrong way to play the game.  Winning a national championship should not change that.  Particularly when both Amherst wins in Vegas could have gone either way, especially when NCAA decides to bring in "VAR" for the first time in Final Four.